Take out and cooling system and method

ABSTRACT

A take-out and cooling method and apparatus conveys molded plastic articles from a molding machine to and through a cooling station and preferably includes a take-out apparatus that has a main support, a conveyor carried by the main support for movement in an endless path, a cam adjacent to the support, a plurality of arms carried by the conveyor for movement with the conveyor along the endless path and including a follower responsive to the contour of the cam to vary the position of the arms relative to the support, and at least one holder carried by each arm. Each holder is adapted to receive and carry at least one molded article to facilitate in conveying the molded articles and is flexible and resilient to permit relative movement of at least a portion of the holder relative to its associated arm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to molding plastic articles, and moreparticularly to an apparatus and a method for conveying molded articlesfrom a molding machine to and through a cooling station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plastic articles, such as preforms for plastic containers, can be formedby various methods including injection molding and compression molding.The molded preforms are subsequently processed, such as by blow molding,into their desired final shape. After the initial molding step, thepreforms are preferably promptly removed from the mold tooling in astill somewhat soft and pliable condition, to increase the efficiencyand production rate of preforms for each mold. It may be desirably toinitially cool the preforms prior to their being formed in a blowmolding apparatus to facilitate handling the preforms, and to controlthe cooling of the preforms and thereby control the physical propertiesof the preforms prior to being blow molded. Accordingly, challenges arepresented in removing the at least somewhat soft preforms from themolding machine and transferring them to a cooling machine at a desiredrate and without damaging the preforms. Challenges are also presented inefficiently and effectively cooling the preforms at a desired rate andwithout damaging the preforms as they are moved through the coolingstation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A take-out and cooling method and apparatus, in accordance with anexemplary but presently preferred first aspect of the invention, conveysmolded plastic articles from a molding machine to and through a coolingstation. The apparatus preferably includes a take-out apparatus that hasa main support, a conveyor carried by the main support for movement inan endless path, a cam adjacent to the support, a plurality of armscarried by the conveyor for movement with the conveyor along the endlesspath and including a follower responsive to the contour of the cam tovary the position of the arms relative to the support, and at least oneholder carried by each arm. Each holder is adapted to receive and carryat least one molded article to facilitate in conveying the moldedarticles and is flexible and resilient to permit relative movement of atleast a portion of the holder relative to its associated arm.

In accordance with another exemplary but presently preferred aspect ofthe invention, a molded article cooling system includes a transfermechanism that receives a plurality of molded articles and conveys themalong a path from an infeed section to an outfeed section, and a coolingmechanism extending along the path and having an elongate fluid outletthrough which fluid is directed toward the plurality of molded articles.The fluid outlet is substantially continuous along at least a portion ofthe path so that a substantially continuous stream of fluid is directedtoward said plastic articles. The fluid outlet is preferably defined byat least two plates that are adjustable to permit the width and/ordirection of the fluid stream discharged from the fluid outlet to beadjusted as desired. Desirably, the fluid outlet provides a generallycontinuous line or knife of coolant flow rather than intermittentstreams of fluid flow such as from a plurality of spaced nozzles.

Accordingly to yet another presently preferred embodiment, a system forremoving molded articles from a molding machine and cooling the moldedarticles includes a take-out mechanism that receives molded articlesfrom the molding machine and conveys them away from the molding machine,an intermediate conveyor that conveys molded articles away from thetake-out apparatus to a cooling station, and a cooling conveyor thatconveys the molded articles from the intermediate conveyor through thecooling station. The cooling conveyor preferably includes at least onepair of spaced apart belts adapted to frictionally engage and carry themolded plastic articles from an infeed section of the cooling conveyorto an outfeed section of the cooling conveyor. Preferably, the coolingconveyor advances molded articles at a slower rate than does theintermediate conveyor to reduce the spacing between adjacent moldedarticles. Also preferably, the intermediate conveyor preferably includesa permeable belt to communicate with a vacuum source and adapted toengage an upper end of molded articles to suspend the molded articlesfrom the permeable belt under the vacuum force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims andaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a portion of a compression moldingproduction line including one presently preferred embodiment of atakeout apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the compression molding production lineillustrating the general location of the take-out apparatus relative toa compression molding machine and an intermediate conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the compression molding productionline including a take-out and cooling system with the take-outapparatus, intermediate conveyor and a cooling station;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the take-out apparatus and intermediateconveyor with the holders on most of the arms removed;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the take-out apparatus and intermediateconveyor with the holders removed from the arms of the takeoutapparatus;

FIG. 6 is a perspective bottom view of the take-out apparatus;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating aplurality of arms and holders of the take-out apparatus according to onepresently preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating holders of a take-out apparatus andthe intermediate conveyor;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the cooling station and thecooling conveyor within the cooling station;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a cooling station andcooling conveyor according to one presently preferred embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side view of one portion of the coolingconveyor as shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a plurality of elongate fluid outlets alignedto provide a substantially continuous stream of coolant onto moldedarticles in the cooling station;

FIG. 13 is an end view of the portion of the cooling station shown inFIG. 12 illustrating the aligned elongate fluid outlet;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the intermediate conveyor;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the intermediate conveyor;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a take-out and cooling apparatus forconveying and cooling molded plastic articles according to a secondpresently preferred embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the take-out and cooling system of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an end view of the system shown in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged end view illustrating a portion of the coolingstation shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a second presently preferred embodimentof a cooling station of the system shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of the cooling station;

FIG. 22 is a side view of the cooling station;

FIG. 23 is an end view of the cooling station;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment holder for anarm of the take-out apparatus including a pair of holders;

FIG. 25 is a plan view of the holder;

FIG. 26 is a side view of the holder;

FIG. 27 is an end view of the holder;

FIG. 28 is an end view of the second embodiment cooling station;

FIG. 29 is a plan view of a corner cam plate that may be employed withthe takeout apparatus;

FIG. 30 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a takeoutapparatus including cam followers for engagement with the corner camplate;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a plenum of the second embodimentcooling station; and

FIG. 31A is an enlarged fragmentary view of the encircled portion 31A inFIG. 31 showing a portion of adjustable plates that define a fluidoutlet in the cooling station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring in more detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a system10 for conveying and cooling molded plastic articles 12. In onepresently preferred embodiment, the system 10 is used to transfer moldedarticles 12 in a compression molding production line 14. The compressionmolding production line 14 includes, generally, an extruder 16 thatprovides molten plastic material from which the plastic articles 12 aremolded, a compression molding machine 18 including a plurality of moldtooling pairs 20 each having at least one mold cavity in which a plasticarticle 12 is formed, and a pellet distributor 22 that transfers gobs orcharges of plastic from the extruder 16 to the mold tooling 20. Thecompression molding machine and mold tooling may be as shown anddescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/816,498; and10/822299, and the pellet distributor as shown in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/822,297, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The conveying andcooling system 10 preferably includes a takeout apparatus 24 thatconveys molded articles 12 away from the molding machine 18, and acooling station 26 that receives molded articles 12 downstream of thetakeout apparatus 24 and at least partially cools the molded articles 12as they pass therethrough.

In one presently preferred embodiment, the molding machine 18 formsplastic preforms 12 that are subsequently blow molded into a desiredfinal shape, such as to form plastic containers. The molding machine 18may include a plurality of pairs of mold tooling 20 including an uppermold tooling half 28 and a lower mold tooling half 30 (FIG. 2) eachcarried by a rotatable turret 95. At least one of the mold toolinghalves 28, 30 is moveable relative to the other from an open positionwhere the mold tooling halves are spaced apart to a closed positionwhere the mold tooling halves 28, 30 are brought together to compressionmold a plastic article 12. During the portion of the cycle wherein themold tooling halves 28, 30 are open or spaced apart, the takeoutapparatus 24 receives already formed molded articles 12 from the moldtooling 20, and the pellet distributor 22 distributes fresh gobs ofplastic into the mold cavities of the mold tooling 20 for the nextforming cycle. To increase the efficiency of the production line 14, thetakeout apparatus 24 may be disposed in the same general area relativeto the molding machine 18 as the pellet distributor 22. To accomplishthis, arms 32 of the takeout apparatus 24 may be disposed over thepellet distributor 22 so that in the same general window or spacewherein formed articles 12 are removed by the takeout apparatus 24,fresh plastic gobs can be distributed into the mold tooling 20 for asubsequent cycle. This reduces the time that the mold tooling halves 28,30 need to be opened or separated from each other, and thereby increasesthe time for the compression molding portion of the molding cycle. Ofcourse, to do this, the takeout apparatus 24 and pellet distributor 22are designed to avoid interference with each other and to coexist in arelatively limited window or space. Accordingly, the following detaileddescription of the takeout apparatus 24, cooling station 26, andassociated conveyors, is set forth with regard to the presentlypreferred system for manufacturing molded articles 12 and cooling them,and is not intended to limit the broader aspects of the disclosure andinventive concepts, as set forth herein and in the appended claims.

In more detail, as shown in FIGS. 1-6, the takeout apparatus 24 includesa frame 40, a drive assembly 42, and a plurality of arms 32 coupled tothe drive assembly 42 for movement about the frame 40 in an endlesspath. Each arm 32 preferably includes at least one holder 100constructed and arranged to receive and convey a molded plastic article12 as desired. The frame 40 preferably includes one or more support rods46 fixed at one end to a base or main support 48, and at their other endto a support plate 50. In one presently preferred embodiment, thesupport plate 50 is generally rectangular with rounded corners providinga generally smooth and continuous periphery about which the arms 32 maybe continuously circulated. As best shown in FIGS. 16-18, the apparatus24 may include a main frame 52 having upstanding posts 54 spanned byappropriate beams, with spaced beams 56 interconnected by cross beams58. The cross beams 58 may provide rails 60 on which a support frame 62is carried with the rods 46 of the takeout apparatus 24 coupled to thesupport frame 62 and moveable with the support frame 62 along the rails60 to adjust the location of the takeout apparatus 24 as desired.

The drive assembly 42 (FIG. 4) preferably includes a motor 64 and acircumferentially continuous transmission member 66 driven by the motor64 in an endless path or loop. In one presently preferred embodiment,the motor 64 is servo-controlled and preferably communicated with acontroller 65 enabling adjustment and control of the rate at which thetransmission member 66 is driven. The motor 64 is preferably operated sothat the arms 32 are driven as a function of the rotational speed of theturret 95. In the presently preferred embodiment, the motor 64 iscoupled to a drive sprocket 68 mounted on the support plate 50 by adrive shaft 70 driven for rotation by the motor 64. A plurality ofdriven sprockets 72 are also mounted on the support plate 50 byappropriate shafts 74 about which the driven sprockets 72 rotate, witheach driven sprocket 72 and the drive sprocket 68 preferably disposedadjacent a rounded corner of the support plate 50. In this embodiment,the transmission member 66 includes at least one, and preferably twoparallel and substantially inextensible chains 66 having interconnectedlinks and being carried and driven by the sprockets 68, 72. The chains66 are formed in an endless loop about the periphery of the supportplate 50 and preferably carry a plurality of arms 32 that are driven inan endless loop around the support plate 50. A cam track 76, that isalso carried by the support plate 50, further controls and directs themovement of the arms 32 as they are circulated about the periphery ofthe support plate 50.

Each arm 32 preferably includes a block 80 slidably carried on at leastone and preferably a pair of slide rods 82 to permit axial, or vertical(as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5) slidable movement or translation toward andaway from the support plate 50. Each block 80 preferably includes atleast one cam follower or first roller 84 responsive to the contour ofthe cam track 76 and preferably disposed in the cam track 76 or engagedwith an appropriate cam surface to slidably move the blocks 80 along theslide rods 82 and relative to the support plate 50. Each slide rod 82preferably extends through a hollow passage extending through at leastone chain 66 and preferably both chains 66. In this manner, the sliderods 82 replace the pivot shafts that traditionally connect adjacentlinks of the chains 66. Appropriate fasteners 86 can be used to retainthe slide rods 82 on the chains 66. In this manner, the arms 32 areoperably associated or connected to the chains 66 for movement with thechains 66 about the periphery of the support plate 50. At the oppositeend of each slide rod 82, according to one presently preferredembodiment as shown in FIGS. 4 and 29, a second cam follower 88 orroller may be provided to engage one or more corner cam plates 90carried by the support plate 50 through appropriate supports 92. Thecorner cam plates 90 preferably have a cam surface 94 constructed andarranged to prevent radial outward movement of the arms 32 and sliderods 82 as the arms 32 are moved around a corner of the support plate50.

In the presently preferred embodiment, wherein the molding machine 18includes a rotary turret 95 (FIG. 3), one or more sides 96 of thesupport plate 50 may be generally arcuate or curved so that the arms 32traverse an arc as they are moved along that side 96. The curvature ofthe arc traversed by the arms 32 is preferably generally concave andcomplimentary to the path of travel of the mold tooling 20 along theturret 95 so that the arms 32 follow the motion of the mold tooling 20to facilitate removing molded articles 12 from the mold tooling 20. Todrive the arms along the curved path, the cam track 76 preferably has acomplimentary contour so that engagement of the first rollers 84 withthe cam surface moves the chains 66, slide rods 82 and arms 32 along thedesired path. The rate at which the arms are driven by the motor 64 isalso preferably controlled as a function of the rate at which the turret95 and its mold tooling 20 are moved.

As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, according to one embodiment, each arm 32includes at least one and preferably a pair of holders 100 with eachholder 100 adapted to receive a separate molded article 12, so that eacharm 32 preferably carries a pair of molded articles 12 away from themold tooling 20. Each pair of holders 100 is preferably mounted to acarrier plate 102 that is fixed to a corresponding arm 32. In thisembodiment, each holder 100 includes a plurality of upstanding fingers104 fixed at one end to the carrier plate 102 and having an opposed freeend 106. A receptacle 108 is defined between the fingers 104 of eachholder 100 with a molded article 12 adapted to be received in thereceptacle 108. The fingers 104 may include contact members 110 thatextend from a finger into the receptacle 108 defined between the fingers104. The contact members 1110 are arranged to limit the surface area orpoints of contact between the holder 100 and a molded article 12 carriedby the holder 100. In one embodiment the contact members 110 may begenerally curved, and are preferably at least partially spherical, andtwo spaced apart contact members 110 may be provided on each finger 104.The shape and number of contact members 110 can be varied as desired fora particular application.

Each finger 104 is preferably flexible and resilient to limit the forceapplied to a molded article 12 if, for example, the molded article 12 isoffset or misaligned slightly from the receptacle 108. The flexiblefingers 104 also prevent damage to the arms 32 should they encounterinterference, and may be constructed and arranged to break away at aforce low enough to prevent damage to the associated arm 32 in such asituation. In one presently preferred embodiment, the fingers 104 arecomposed of coil springs having a stiffness chosen to adequately supportand retain the molded articles 12 without applying undesirable pressureto the molded articles 12 through the contact members 110.

In addition to the fingers 104, each receptacle 108 is preferably alsodefined at least in part by a flexible support 114 carried by thecarrier plate 102. The flexible supports 114 are arranged to support alower surface of the molded articles 12 and may be formed relativelyinexpensively from spring steel. The flexible supports 114 for bothreceptacles 108 defined on each arm 32 can be formed from a singlespring member attached to the carrier plate 102 between its ends, witheach end being cantilevered so that it is flexible, resilient andextends into a corresponding receptacle 108.

Desirably, the receptacles 108 of each holder 100 are aligned with amold core 116 (FIG. 7) of the mold tooling 20 to receive a moldedplastic article 12 off of the mold core 116 and to convey the moldedarticles 12 away from the mold tooling 20. In the embodiment shown, eachset of mold tooling 20 includes mold cores 116 in radially alignedpairs. So the holders 100 and receptacles 108 of each arm 32 in thisembodiment are constructed to be aligned with the pairs of mold cores116 along a predetermined portion of the path of movement of the moldcores 116 when the mold tooling halves 28, 30 are separated or open. Inone embodiment, each mold tooling pair 20 defines four mold cavities (intwo pairs of radially aligned cavities) and forms four molded articles12 in each cycle. In this embodiment, two arms 32 are needed to removethe four molded articles 12 from each mold tooling pair 20. The arms 32are driven at a rate that is a function of the rotational speed of theturret 95 to ensure that the holders 100 are properly aligned with andready to receive the molded articles 12 as they are stripped from themold cores 116. To do this, the servo-controlled motor 64 that drivesthe arms 32 can be communicated with an appropriate controller 65 thatis responsive to the rate of rotation of the turret 95 and/or therotational position of the turret 95.

As best shown in FIGS. 2-5, 8 and 14-17, the system 10 preferablyincludes an intermediate conveyor 120 disposed between the takeoutapparatus 24 and the cooling station 26. The intermediate conveyor 120preferably includes an infeed section 122 wherein molded plasticarticles 12 are transferred from the takeout apparatus 24 to theintermediate conveyor 120, and an outfeed section 124 wherein moldedplastic articles 12 are transferred from the intermediate conveyor 120to the cooling station 26. The intermediate conveyor 120 may be carriedby the support plate 50 of the takeout apparatus 24 by upstanding posts126 and generally transverse brackets 128 fixed to the support plate 50.In one presently preferred embodiment, the intermediate conveyor 120includes at least one and preferably a pair of parallel belts 130communicated with a vacuum source to retain the molded plastic articles12 on the belts 130 under a vacuum force. To do this, the belts 130 arepermeable, and may be perforated including a series of holes 132 (FIGS.8 and 14) through which air is drawn under the vacuum.

As best shown in FIG. 8, at the infeed section 122 of the intermediateconveyor 120 the takeout arms 32 are oriented so as to engage an upperend of the molded articles 12 with the belts 130 of the intermediateconveyor 120. Desirably, each of the pair of molded articles 12 carriedby an arm 32 is aligned with a separate one of the belts 130 andgenerally simultaneously transferred from the takeout apparatus 24 tothe intermediate conveyor 120. Each belt 130 is preferably looped arounda pair of shafts or pulleys 134 carried by side plates 136 of theintermediate conveyor 120. One of the pulleys 134 is driven by a motor138 via a drive pulley 140 driven by the motor 138 and a belt 142. Ofcourse, any number of pulleys 134 can be utilized. The molded articles12 are preferably suspended from the belts 130 and guided along astraight path from the infeed section 122 to the outfeed section 124.

As shown in FIGS. 9-13, from the outfeed section 124 of the intermediateconveyor 120 the molded articles 12 are transferred to one or morecooling conveyor systems 144 passing through the cooling station 26 andadapted to convey the molded articles 12 through the cooling station 26.In one embodiment, the cooling station 26 includes two parallel coolingconveyor systems 144 each generally aligned with a separate one of thebelts 130 of the intermediate conveyor 120. Each cooling conveyor system144 includes a lower conveyor 146, and a pair of side conveyors 148. Thelower conveyor 146 includes a belt 150 driven by a pulley 152 carried bya shaft 154 that is driven by a motor 156. The belt 150 is adapted toengage a lower end or bottom surface of a molded article 12 as themolded article 12 passes through the cooling station 26.

Each of the pair of side conveyors 148 preferably includes a belt 158wrapped around at least a pair of pulleys 160 with one pulley 160 at aninfeed section 164 of the cooling station 26 and the other pulley (notshown) at the outfeed section 166 of the cooling station 26. If desired,multiple pulleys may be provided between the infeed section 164 andoutfeed section 166 providing additional support for the belt 158. Eachside conveyor belt 158 is adapted to engage a sidewall 168 of the moldedarticles 12 so that the molded articles 12 are supported in an uprightposition as they are carried through the cooling station 26 by the sideconveyors 148 and lower conveyor 146. Each belt 158 may be wrappedpartially about a guide pulley 170 and around a driven pulley 172 fixedto the shaft 154 and driven by the motor 156 so that each belt 158 ofthe side conveyors 148 and the belt 150 of the lower conveyor 146 aredriven by the same shaft 154 and motor 156. As best shown in FIG. 11,each guide pulley 170 and the pulleys 160, 162 between the infeedsection 164 and outfeed section 166 are preferably pivotally oradjustably mounted to permit the distance between the side conveyors 148to be adjusted to accommodate plastic articles 12 of different sizes.

As best shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, in one embodiment, the cooling station26 preferably includes one or more plenums 174 or manifoldscommunicating with a plurality of nozzles having an outlet directedtowards the cooling conveyors, and more specifically toward the moldedarticles 12 conveyed by the cooling conveyors 146, 148. Coolant, whichis preferably chilled forced air as applied to container preforms, isdirected onto the molded articles 12, preferably at various locations onand/or in the molded articles 12. As shown in this embodiment, coolantis directed by a series of laterally spaced side nozzles 176 onto theexterior sidewall 168 of the molded articles 12, and by a series ofcentral nozzles 178 into an interior cavity 180 of the molded articles12. The coolant can also be compressed air or a liquid, such as water,by way of examples without limitation.

As best shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, multiple aligned central nozzles 178are preferably provided between the infeed section 164 and outfeedsection 166 of the cooling station 26. The side nozzles 176 arepreferably similarly arranged in series and aligned. The nozzles 176,178 preferably include elongate fluid outlets 180 that preferablyprovide a relatively wide stream of coolant rather than a small jet ofcoolant such as may be delivered from a small circular nozzle. Thenozzles 176,178 are preferably aligned with minimal spacing between themproviding an at least substantially continuous stream or curtain ofcoolant onto the molded plastic articles 12 as they pass through thecooling station 26. To maximize the cooling efficiency, the streams ofcoolant directed toward and into the molded articles 12 are preferablycontinuous along the length of the cooling station 26. To accomplishthis in the present embodiment, the nozzles 176,178 can be constructedand arranged so that the discharge pattern of the nozzles 176,178 joinor overlap at or prior to engagement with the molded articles 12.Accordingly, coolant is preferably continually provided on and into themolded articles 12 without interruption as the molded articles 12 aremoved through the cooling station 26.

In FIGS. 16-23, 28 and 31, a second presently preferred embodiment of acooling station 200 is shown. Like the first embodiment cooling station26, the second embodiment cooling station 200 preferably includes a pairof cooling conveyors 202 providing parallel paths each adapted toreceive molded articles 12 therein and to transfer the molded articles12 through the cooling station 200. The cooling station 200 includes apair of coolant supply conduits 204 communicated with a supply ofcoolant, such as a blower providing forced air, a compressed air source,or a liquid coolant source. Branch conduits 206 extend from the supplyconduits 204 to both a pair of upper main plenums 208 (one for eachconveyor path) and a pair of lower main plenums 210 (also one for eachconveyor path) respectively disposed above and below the coolingconveyors 202. The cooling station 200 may be supported by appropriatelegs 211 of a frame 244.

The upper and lower plenums 208, 210 may be similarly constructed todefine an elongate, preferably continuous enclosure in which coolant isreceived. Each plenum 208, 210 is defined at least in part by one ormore fluid outlet plates 212 that define an elongate and preferably atleast substantially continuous fluid outlet 214 through which coolant isdischarged from each plenum 208 and toward molded articles 12 beingconveyed through the cooling station 200. In one presently preferredembodiment, each elongate fluid outlet 214 is defined by a pair ofelongate plates 212 fixed to the associated plenum 208, 210 with alinear slot between the plates 212 defining the fluid outlet 214.Preferably, the plates 212 include outwardly extending flanges 216 whichmay be adjustably carried or connected to an associated plenum 208, 210to permit the size and location of the fluid outlet 214, relative tomolded articles 12 conveyed through the cooling station 200, to bechanged. The plates 212 may include slots 215 (FIG. 31A) that receivefasteners 217 and permit movement of the plates 211 relative to thefasteners 217.

In one presently preferred embodiment, the plates 212 are generallyL-shaped in section and include flanges 218 extending into an associatedplenum 208, 210 and defining a passage 220 communicating with the fluidoutlet 214 through which coolant flows from the plenum 208, 210 to thefluid outlet 214. In the presently preferred embodiment, the fluidoutlet 214 is continuous and extends without interruption from alocation generally adjacent to the infeed section 222 of the coolingstation 200 to the outfeed section 224 of the cooling station 200.Accordingly, rather than discreet or individual coolant nozzles, in thisembodiment, a continuous and preferably generally linear stream, curtainor knife of coolant is provided onto the molded articles 12 as they areconveyed through the cooling station 200.

To convey the molded articles 12 through the cooling station 200, twospaced cooling conveyors 202 are provided. As best shown in FIG. 28,each cooling conveyor 202 preferably includes a pair of belts 230 havinggenerally opposed planar faces 232 adapted to engage diametricallyopposed surfaces of the molded articles 12 preferably with a frictionfit to carry and convey the molded articles 12 through the coolingstation 200. The opposed faces 232 of the belts 230 preferably extendaxially relative to the molded plastic articles 12 and are generallycontinuous from the infeed section 222 to the outfeed section 224 of thecooling station 200. The belts 230 are preferably trained around aplurality of pulleys 234 and include an outwardly extending projection236 adapted to be received in a complementary track or groove 238 formedin each pulley 234 to facilitate retaining and locating the belts 230relative to the pulleys 234. In one presently preferred embodiment, theprojection 236 on each belt 230 may be generally V-shaped or trapezoidalincluding three generally straight outer edges in section. At least onepulley 234 associated with each belt 230 of each cooling conveyor 202 isdriven, such as by a motor 235 (FIG. 22), for rotation to advance thebelt 230 along the pulleys 234 and thereby advance the molded articles12 carried by the belts 230. The pulleys 234 are preferably mounted onshafts 240 fixed to plates 242 that are in turn adjustably carried by aframe 244 of the cooling station 200. Each pulley 234 may be adjustablerelative to the plate 242 on which it is received to facilitate desiredalignment of the pulleys 234 on the plates 242, and the plates 242 canpreferably be adjusted relative to the frame 244 to adjust the positionof the pulleys 234 and belts 230 relative to molded articles 12 in thecooling station 200. Accordingly, the distance between the belts 230 ofa cooling conveyor 202 can be adjusted so that molded articles 12 ofvarying sizes can be accommodated by the cooling station 200.

In one presently preferred embodiment, the cooling station 200 isemployed to cool molded plastic preforms 12 including a generallycylindrical finish 250 preferably having a plurality of external threads252, and a radially outwardly extending flange 254 between the finish250 and a main body 256 of the preform. In the preferred embodiment, thebelts 230 are arranged to frictionally engage the threads 252 on thefinish 250 of each preform at a location axially spaced from the flange254. When carried and conveyed in this manner, the open upper end 258 ofthe preforms 12 are exposed to the fluid outlets 214 of an associatedupper plenum 208 and the lower portion of the preforms, shown here as aclosed semi-spherical end 260, are exposed to the elongate fluid outlet214 of an associated lower plenum 210.

Accordingly, a stream of coolant is directed into the open upper ends258 of each preform 12, and against the closed lower end 260 of eachpreform 12. The stream of coolant directed against the lower end 260 ofthe preforms 12 preferably flows upwardly and around a side wall 168 ofthe preforms 12 improving the cooling performance. Because the plates242 defining the fluid outlets 214 are adjustable relative to theplenums 208, 210 the location of the fluid outlets 214 relative to anaxis 270 of the preforms 12 can be adjusted. The streams of coolantdischarged from the fluid outlets 214 can be arranged to be coincidentwith a plane including the axis 270 of each preform 12 along the coolingconveyor 202. The fluid outlets 214 can also be moved so that thestreams are parallel but spaced from the plane containing the axis 270of each preform 12. And the plates 242 can be adjusted so that thedirection of the streams is not parallel to the plane containing theaxes 270 of the preforms. In that arrangement, the stream may intersectthe plane containing the axes 270 of the preforms 12, or may be entirelyseparate from that plane, at least from the fluid outlet 214 to theupper end 258 of the preforms 12.

The fluid outlet 214 of the upper plenum 208 is preferably offset fromthe plane containing the axes 270 of the preforms to provide a moreturbulent flow within the preforms and improved flow into and out thepreforms avoiding a stagnant section or layer of coolant in the interiorof the preforms 12 to improve fluid flow and more evenly cool thepreforms 12. The upper plenum 208 may be formed in two sections, andeach section of the upper plenum 208 may be separately adjusted so thatthey direct coolant onto or into the preforms 12 at different locationsor in generally different directions. This may provide more even coolingof the preforms 12.

Also preferably, the fluid outlet 214 of the lower plenum 210 isdirected along or coincident with the plane containing the axes 270 ofthe preforms 12 so that the coolant engages the lower end 260 of thepreforms 12 and flows generally evenly around the exterior of thepreforms to improve the cooling properties thereof. Of course, the widthof both the upper and lower fluid outlets 214 can be adjusted asdesired, for example by moving the plates 212 further apart from eachother.

In one presently preferred embodiment, the coolant is chilled forcedair. The air may be passed through a heat exchanger to cool it, and thenmoved by one or more blowers through the fluid conduits 204, 206 andinto the upper and lower plenums 208, 210. The temperature of thechilled air can vary widely, and in one presently preferred embodimentmay be between 30° and 80° F., preferably around 40° to 60° F. The flowrate of coolant provided through the fluid outlets 214 can also bechanged as desired as a function of the flow area of the fluid outlet214, as well as the flow rate of fluid delivered to the plenums 208,210. Other coolants may be used, including by way of example withoutlimitation, compressed air and/or liquid coolants, such as water.Additionally, the cooling conveyors 202 may convey the preforms 12through a coolant bath such as by passing the preforms 12 through a poolor bath of water or other coolant.

Preferably, the cooling conveyors 202 are driven at a rate that isslower than the rate at which the intermediate conveyor 120 is driven toreduce the pitch or spacing between adjacent preforms 12 and therebyincreasing the time that the preforms 12 spend in the cooling station26, 200. This increases the efficiency of the cooling station 26, 200 byincreasing the potential cooling available per length of cooling station26, 200 and also reduces the required floor space for the apparatus.

An alternate embodiment holder assembly 300 for the take-out apparatus24 is shown in FIGS. 24-27. This embodiment preferably includes acarrier plate 302, and a pair of flexible supports 304, that may beformed on a single strip of bent spring steel, as set forth with regardto the previous embodiment holders 100. The holders 300 themselves, likethe previous embodiment, preferably include a plurality of upstandingfingers 306 and also preferably include at least one contact member 308carried by the fingers 306 and defining in part a receptacle 310 betweenthe fingers 306.

In the embodiment shown, each holder 300 includes four upstanding,flexible and resilient fingers 306 and a pair of axially spaced contactmembers 308. Each contact member 308 is preferably annular, and is fixedto the fingers 306 so that openings 312 of associated contact members308 are coaxially aligned. To facilitate alignment of a molded article12 with a receptacle 310, the openings 312 through the contact members308 preferably have an entrance portion 314 that is beveled or tapered.The flexible and resilient fingers 306 can be formed from appropriatesprings, as set forth with regard to previous embodiment. The springs orother finger arrangement are preferably received throughcircumferentially spaced bores 315 in the contact members 308. Thecontact members 308 can be retained on the fingers 306 by set screws 316disposed in radial 318 bores in the contact members 308 and extendinginto engagement with the fingers 306. Desirably, the annular contactmembers 308 are generally thin in the axial direction to limit thesurface area or contact area of the contact members 308 with the moldedplastic articles 12. Any number and arrangement of contact members 308,or no contact members, may be provided for each holder 300, as desired.

In use, the molding machine 18 produces a plurality of molded articles12, such as molded plastic preforms 12 that are subsequently processedor formed into plastic containers. The mold tooling 20 may include afemale mold cavity and a male mold core 116 removably disposed in themold cavity to form a preform 12. When the mold tooling halves 28, 30are separated after a compression molding cycle, the preforms 12 arepreferably carried by the mold cores 116 so that they are removed fromthe mold cavities when the mold tooling halves 28, 30 are separated.

During this time, an arm 32 of the take-out apparatus 24 is disposedbeneath a pair of aligned mold cores 116 so that when the preforms 12are released from the mold cores 116 the preforms 12 are disposed in thereceptacles 108, 310 of the holders 100, 300 on the arm 32. The arm 32continues to be driven about the periphery of the support plate 50 tocarry the molded preforms 12 away from the molding machine and towardthe intermediate conveyor 120. In the area of the infeed section 122 ofthe intermediate conveyor 120, the arms 32 are arranged so that theupper end of each preform 12 is generally aligned with an associatedbelt 130 of the intermediate conveyor 120. Desirably, the upper end ofeach preform 12 is brought into engagement with its associated belt 130as the take-out arms 32 are driven relative to the intermediate conveyor120. To prevent excessive force from being applied to the preforms 12 asthey are brought into engagement with the belts 130, the flexiblesupports 114, 304 in the receptacle 108 are designed to flex to limit orprevent damage to the preforms under this load. The preforms are thenheld on the vacuum belt 130 under vacuum force, and the take-out arms 32can be lowered away from the intermediate conveyor 120 as controlled byengagement of the cam followers 84 with the cam track 76 of the take-outapparatus 24.

The preforms 12 continue along the intermediate conveyor 120 until theyreach the outfeed section 124 whereupon they are transferred to thecooling conveyors 146, 148, 202 of the cooling station 26, 200. Preforms12 are carried by the belts 150, 158, 230 of the cooling conveyors 146,148, 202 through the cooling station 26, 200 wherein one or more streamsof coolant are directed at and into the preforms 12 to cool them. Hence,the preforms 12 are moved to and through the cooling station in-linewith a plurality of preforms 12 being simultaneously cooled as they aremoved through the cooling station. The preforms 12 are at leastsubstantially continuously cooled as they are moved in-line through thecooling station, and are preferably continuously cooled by a continuousstream of fluid directed at the preforms as they are moved along atleast a portion of the cooling path or cooling station. As noted herein,a plurality of lines of preforms may be formed for increased productionrate and efficiency. While the terms “in-line” and “lines” have beenused to describe the consecutive travel of the preforms 12, it is to beunderstood that the preforms do not have to travel linearly. Curvedlines or other configurations can be employed.

While certain preferred embodiments and constructions and arrangementsof particular components of the takeout and cooling system and methodhave been shown and described herein, one of ordinary skill in this artwill readily understand that modifications and substitutions can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims. Further, relative adjectives like “upper,”“lower,” “central,” and the like are used to describe features ofsystem, apparatus and method with respect to the position andorientation of such features as shown in the accompanying drawings ofthe presently preferred embodiments.

1. A takeout apparatus for conveying molded articles, including: a main support; a conveyor carried by the main support for movement around the support in an endless path; a cam adjacent to the support; a plurality of arms carried by the conveyor for movement with the conveyor along said endless path, each arm including a follower responsive to the contour of the cam to vary the position of the arm relative to the support; and at least one holder carried by each arm with each holder adapted to receive and carry at least one molded articles to facilitate conveying the molded articles.
 2. The takeout apparatus of claim 1 wherein each holder includes at least three flexible fingers defining a receptacle in which a molded article is received.
 3. The takeout apparatus of claim 2 which also includes a contact member carried by at least one of said fingers, defining at least a portion of said receptacle, and adapted to engage a limited surface area of a molded article.
 4. The takeout apparatus of claim 3 wherein the portion of the contact member that defines at least a portion of the receptacle is curved.
 5. The takeout apparatus of claim 4 wherein the portion of the contact member that defines at least a portion of the receptacle is convex.
 6. The takeout apparatus of claim 5 wherein the portion of the contact member that defines at least a portion of the receptacle includes a portion of a sphere.
 7. The takeout apparatus of claim 4 wherein the portion of the contact member that defines at least a portion of the receptacle is concave.
 8. The takeout apparatus of claim 7 wherein the portion of the contact member that defines at least a portion of the receptacle is a portion of an annulus.
 9. The takeout apparatus of claim 3 wherein said contact member is annular and coupled to each of said fingers.
 10. The takeout apparatus of claim 3 wherein each finger is coupled to more than one contact member.
 11. The takeout apparatus of claim 1 which also includes a flexible support carried by the holder and adapted to be disposed beneath and in engagement with a molded article carried by the holder.
 12. The takeout apparatus of claim 2 which also includes a flexible support carried by the holder and defining at least a portion of the receptacle so that a molded article carried by the holder is disposed on said flexible support.
 13. The takeout apparatus of claim 1 wherein each arm carries at least two holders.
 14. The takeout apparatus of claim 13 which also includes a carrier plate carried by each arm and wherein the holders are secured to the carrier plate.
 15. The takeout apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor includes a drive member and a transmission member being driven by the drive member in an endless path, with the arm being carried by the transmission member for movement in an endless path.
 16. The takeout apparatus of claim 15 wherein the transmission member includes at least one chain and each arm is carried by a rod that is couple to the chain.
 17. The takeout apparatus of claim 16 which also includes a plurality of passages in the chain and wherein each rod extends through and is retained in a passage in the chain.
 18. The takeout apparatus of claim 17 wherein each passage is defined by two adjacent links of the chain with each rod connecting together said two adjacent links of each passage.
 19. The takeout apparatus of claim 16 wherein each arm is slidably carried on an associated rod and is responsive to changes in the contour of the cam for movement relative to the main support in response to changes in the contour of the cam.
 20. The takeout apparatus of claim 19 which also includes a block slidably received on each rod, each arm being coupled to a block and each block having a cam follower responsive to the contour of the cam to slidably move the arm relative to its associated rod.
 21. The takeout apparatus of claim 15 wherein said drive includes a motor and a drive sprocket driven by the motor, said transmission member being coupled to the drive sprocket.
 22. The takeout apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the endless path of said conveyor is curved so that the arms move through an arc during at least a portion of their movement.
 23. The takeout apparatus of claim 22 wherein said curved portion of the endless path is concave.
 24. A holder for molded articles, including: a carrier plate; a plurality of flexible fingers carried by the carrier plate and arranged spaced from each other to define a receptacle between them in which a molded article can be received.
 25. The holder of claim 24 wherein each holder includes at least three flexible fingers defining a receptacle in which a molded article is received.
 26. The holder of claim 24 which also includes at least one contact member carried by at least one finger and extending at least partially into said receptacle to engage a molded article received in the receptacle over a limited surface area.
 27. The holder of claim 26 wherein the portion of the contact member that defines at least a portion of the receptacle is curved.
 28. The holder of claim 27 wherein the portion of the contact member that defines at least a portion of the receptacle is convex.
 29. The holder of claim 27 wherein the portion of the contact member that defines at least a portion of the receptacle includes a portion of a sphere.
 30. The holder of claim 27 wherein the portion of the contact member that defines at least a portion of the receptacle is concave.
 31. The holder of claim 30 wherein the portion of the contact member that defines at least a portion of the receptacle is a portion of an annulus.
 32. The holder of claim 26 wherein said contact member is annular and coupled to each of said fingers.
 33. The holder of claim 32 wherein each finger is coupled to more than one contact member.
 34. The holder of claim 24 which also includes a flexible support received at least partially between said fingers to define at least a portion of the receptacle, the flexible support being adapted to be disposed beneath and in engagement with a molded article received in the receptacle.
 35. A molded article cooling system, including: a transfer mechanism that receives a plurality of molded articles and conveys them along a path from an infeed section to an outfeed section; a cooling mechanism extending along said path and having an elongate fluid outlet through which fluid is directed toward said plurality of molded articles, the fluid outlet being substantially continuous along at least a portion of said path so that a substantially continuous stream of fluid is directed toward said molded articles.
 36. The cooling system of claim 35 which includes at least two plates that are spaced apart to define the fluid outlet between them.
 37. The cooling system of claim 36 wherein at least one of said plates is movable relative to another plate to permit the width of the fluid outlet to be adjusted.
 38. The cooling system of claim 37 wherein both plates are adjustably carried in the cooling mechanism so that the location of the fluid outlet relative to the transfer mechanism can be adjusted.
 39. The cooling system of claim 37 wherein said at least one of said plates is movable to permit the direction of the stream of fluid relative to the transfer mechanism to be changed.
 40. The cooling system of claim 35 wherein the fluid discharged from the fluid outlet is air.
 41. The cooling system of claim 40 wherein the air is chilled relative to ambient and exits the fluid outlet at between 30 to 80 degrees F.
 42. The cooling system of claim 40 wherein the air is pressurized.
 43. The cooling system of claim 41 wherein the air is pressurized.
 44. The cooling system of claim 35 wherein the cooling mechanism includes at least one blower providing a flow of air to the fluid outlet.
 45. The cooling system of claim 35 wherein said molded articles include molded preforms having an open end and a closed end and said stream of fluid is directed into the open end of the preforms.
 46. The cooling system of claim 45 said stream of fluid is directed onto the closed end of the preforms.
 47. The cooling system of claim 46 wherein said preforms include a sidewall between the closed end and the open end and said stream is directed at least in part onto the sidewall of the preforms.
 48. The cooling system of claim 45 wherein each preform has a central axis, and the axes of said preforms lie in a plane when the preforms are conveyed along said portion of the path including the fluid outlet, said stream of air being directed onto said preforms in a direction parallel to said plane.
 49. The cooling system of claim 48 said stream of air is directed onto said preforms at an acute included angle to said plane.
 50. The cooling system of claim 48 wherein at least a portion of said stream is coincident with said plane.
 51. The cooling system of claim 48 wherein said stream is spaced from said plane.
 52. The cooling system of claim 48 wherein said stream intersects said plane.
 53. The cooling system of claim 48 wherein said stream is spaced from said plane.
 54. The cooling system of claim 35 wherein said transfer mechanism includes a plurality of pulleys, and belts on the pulleys disposed adjacent to and adapted to engage opposite sides of the molded articles to transfer the molded articles from the infeed section to the outfeed section.
 55. The cooling system of claim 54 wherein said molded articles include preforms having threads adjacent to one end and said belts engage said preforms in the area of the threads.
 56. The cooling system of claim 55 wherein the preforms have a central axis and the belts have a contact surface that is generally planar and parallel to the axes of the preforms and engage and carry the preforms by frictional engagement of the belts with the preforms.
 57. The cooling system of claim 54 wherein said molded articles include preforms that have a central axis and the belts have a contact surface that is generally planar and parallel to the axes of the preforms and engage and carry the preforms by frictional engagement of the belts with the preforms.
 58. The cooling system of claim 54 wherein at least some of the pulleys are adjustably carried by the transfer mechanism to accommodate molded articles of different sizes.
 59. The cooling system of claim 58 wherein at least some of the pulleys are mounted on a plate that is slidably adjustably carried on the transfer mechanism.
 60. The cooling system of claim 54 wherein the pulleys include a recessed portion and said belts include a projection adapted to be received in said recessed portion of the pulleys to maintain the belts on the pulleys.
 61. The cooling system of claim 60 wherein said projection is generally trapezoidal in section and the recess is complementarily shaped.
 62. A system for removing molded articles from a molding machine and cooling the molded articles, the system including: a takeout apparatus having a plurality of arms adapted to receive molded articles from the molding machine and to convey molded articles from the molding machine, the arms being driven in an endless path to transfer molded articles from the molding machine; an intermediate conveyor having an infeed section adjacent to at least a portion of the takeout apparatus to receive molded articles from the takeout apparatus and convey molded articles away from the takeout apparatus and an outfeed section from which molded articles leave the intermediate conveyor; a cooling station through which the molded articles pass and including at least one fluid outlet through which a fluid is directed toward the molded articles to cool them; and a cooling conveyor having an infeed section adjacent to the outfeed section of the intermediate conveyor to receive molded articles from the intermediate conveyor and an outfeed section from which molded articles are removed from the cooling station.
 63. The system of claim 62 wherein the cooling conveyor advances molded articles at a slower rate than does the intermediate conveyor to reduce the spacing between adjacent molded articles and increase the time that the molded articles are in the cooling station.
 64. The system of claim 62 wherein the molding machine includes a plurality of radially aligned pairs of mold tooling and produces two radially aligned molded articles for each cycle of each pair of radially aligned mold tooling, each arm of the takeout apparatus includes two receptacles with each receptacle adapted to receive one of the two radially aligned molded articles, the intermediate conveyor including two conveyor paths with each conveyor path adapted to transfer one of the two radially aligned molded articles, and the cooling conveyor including two conveyor paths with each conveyor path adapted to transfer one of the two radially aligned molded articles.
 65. The system of claim 62 wherein the intermediate conveyor includes a perforated belt communicated with a vacuum source and adapted to engage an upper end of the molded articles to suspend the molded articles from the perforated belt under the vacuum force.
 66. The system of claim 65 which also includes a cam associated with the takeout apparatus and wherein each arm of the takeout apparatus includes a follower responsive to a contour of the cam to bring at least one molded articles carried by the arm into engagement with the perforated belt, and thereafter to drive the arm away from the molded articles to transfer the molded articles from the takeout apparatus to the intermediate conveyor.
 67. The system of claim 62 wherein said at least one fluid outlet includes an elongate fluid outlet through which fluid is directed toward said molded articles, the fluid outlet being substantially continuous along at least a portion of said cooling station so that a substantially continuous stream of fluid is directed toward said molded articles.
 68. The system of claim 67 which includes at least two plates that are spaced apart to define the fluid outlet between them.
 69. The system of claim 68 wherein at least one of said plates is movable relative to another plate to permit adjustment of the fluid outlet.
 70. The system of claim 68 wherein the position of each of said at least two plates is adjustable so that the location of the fluid outlet relative to the molded articles can be adjusted.
 71. The system of claim 69 wherein said at least one of said plates is movable to permit the direction of the stream of fluid relative to the molded articles to be changed.
 72. The system of claim 68 wherein the fluid discharged from the fluid outlet is air.
 73. The system of claim 72 wherein the air is chilled relative to ambient and exits the fluid outlet at between 30 to 80 degrees F.
 74. The system of claim 72 wherein the air is pressurized.
 75. The system of claim 73 wherein the air is pressurized.
 76. The system of claim 67 wherein said fluid outlet is defined by a linear slot between two adjacent plates.
 77. The system of claim 76 wherein said linear slot is continuous along the length of said plates.
 78. The system of claim 62 wherein said cooling conveyor includes at least one pair of spaced apart belts adapted to frictionally engage and carry the molded plastic articles from the infeed section of the cooling conveyor to the outfeed section of the cooling conveyor.
 79. A method of cooling a molded article, including the steps of: (a) conveying molded articles along a path; and (b) directing an elongate stream of coolant onto the molded articles as they are conveyed along said path, the elongate stream being continuous along at least a major portion of said path.
 80. The method of claim 79 wherein said molded article includes an axis with the axis of each molded article being aligned as the molded articles are conveyed along said path, with a plane being defined that contains the axes of the molded articles.
 81. The method of claim 80 wherein said elongate stream is directed at said molded articles offset from said plane.
 82. The method of claim 81 wherein said elongate stream is directed at said molded articles parallel to and spaced from said plane.
 83. The method of claim 81 wherein said elongate stream is directed at said molded articles at an angle to said plane.
 84. The method of claim 83 wherein said elongate stream intersects said plane.
 85. The method of claim 79 which also includes the step of (c) directing a second stream of coolant onto the molded articles as they are conveyed along said path, said second stream being continuous along at least a major portion of said path and being provided at an angle to said stream of step (b).
 86. The method of claim 85 wherein each molded article has an open end and a closed end and step (b) is accomplished by directing said stream into said open end of the molded articles, and step (c) is accomplished by directing said second stream against said closed end of the molded articles.
 87. The method of claim 80 wherein said molded articles include a closed end and said stream is directed at the closed end of the molded articles.
 88. The method of claim 81 wherein said molded articles include an open end and said stream is directed into said open end of the molded articles.
 89. The method of claim 82 wherein said molded articles include an open end and said stream is directed into said open end of the molded articles.
 90. The method of claim 83 wherein said molded articles include an open end and said stream is directed into said open end of the molded articles.
 91. The method of claim 85 wherein said molded articles include a sidewall and said second stream is directed onto said sidewall of the molded articles.
 92. A method of forming and handling molded plastic articles, including the steps of: molding a plastic article in a mold cavity; removing said plastic article from said mold cavity; transferring said plastic article to an intermediate conveyor; transferring said plastic article from said intermediate conveyor to a cooling station; and cooling said molded plastic article in said cooling station.
 93. The method of claim 92 wherein said step of cooling said molded plastic article includes moving said plastic article through said cooling station and directing a continuous stream of fluid onto said plastic article as it is moved through at least a portion of the cooling station.
 94. The method of claim 93 wherein said step of cooling said molded plastic article includes moving a plurality of plastic articles in-line through said cooling station and directing a continuous stream of fluid onto said plastic articles as they are moved through at least a portion of the cooling station.
 95. A method of forming and cooling a plastic article, including the steps of: molding a plastic article; moving said plastic article through a cooling station; and continuously cooling said plastic article as it is moved through at least a portion of the cooling station.
 96. The method of claim 95 wherein said step of continuously cooling said plastic article includes directing a continuous stream of fluid onto said plastic article as it is moved through said portion of the cooling station.
 97. The method of claim 95 wherein a plurality of plastic articles are moved through said cooling station in-line and each of said plurality of plastic articles is continuously cooled as it is moved through said portion of said cooling station.
 98. A takeout apparatus for conveying molded articles, including: at least one arm; and at least one holder carried by each arm with each holder adapted to receive and carry at least one molded article to facilitate conveying the molded article, each holder being flexible and resilient permitting relative movement of at least a portion of the holder relative to its associated arm.
 99. The takeout apparatus of claim 98 wherein each holder includes at least three flexible fingers defining a receptacle in which a molded article is received.
 100. The takeout apparatus of claim 99 which also includes a contact member carried by at least one of said fingers, defining at least a portion of said receptacle, and adapted to engage a limited surface area of a molded article.
 101. The takeout apparatus of claim 100 wherein each finger is coupled to more than one contact member.
 102. The takeout apparatus of claim 98 which also includes a flexible support carried by the holder and adapted to be disposed beneath and in engagement with a molded article carried by the holder.
 103. The takeout apparatus of claim 99 which also includes a flexible support carried by the holder and defining at least a portion of the receptacle so that a molded article carried by the holder is disposed on said flexible support.
 104. The takeout apparatus of claim 98 wherein said at least one arm carries at least two holders.
 105. A system for forming and handling molded plastic articles, including: a rotatable turret; mold tooling carried by the rotatable turret and movable between open and closed positions; a plastic pellet distributor operable to deliver plastic pellets to the mold tooling when said mold tooling is in its open position; a takeout apparatus for receiving molded plastic articles from said mold tooling when said mold tooling is in its open position and conveying said molded plastic articles away from said mold tooling; and a cooling station in communication with the takeout apparatus to receive molded plastic articles for cooling.
 106. The system of claim 105 wherein at least a portion of said takeout apparatus overlies at least a portion of said pellet distributor.
 107. The system of claim 105 which also includes a controller that is communicated with the turret, pellet distributor and takeout apparatus and operable to synchronize their operation.
 108. The system of claim 106 wherein the controller is communicated with a motor that drives the pellet distributor and with a motor that drives the takeout apparatus and each of said motors is controlled by said controller and driven as a function of the speed of rotation of the turret. 